The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-24
LEGENDS ABOUT GEMS.
Notes, Historical and Critical. on
Celebrated Precious Stones.

occupied so much attention amOnSSC
cosnolsseurs in, perhaps, the most
refined of all the arts that of the gem
engraver, which, in the medieval ages
in Italy, ranked higher than either
aiuting or sculpture. There needs but
to turn to that wonderful book. "Wor-
ledge's Gems," to behold the perfection
to which the tastes and patronage Of
Englshmen had brought the art of gem
engraving toward the end of the last
century. The late DR.. Billing, bv his
magnificent display OF encouragement
in this branch of this art, has happily
prevented it from dying out from want
of support in England. 1t was curious
to observe that the specimens furnished
as illustrations in the lecture given bv
Mr.. Alfred Phillips all belonged to Eng.
| iish amateurs. Lord Reyelsyoke, one Of
the last of the enthusiasts, contributed
his famous saphir nsarUe,lLeu1. once
belonging to the famous Egalite. Duke
of OrleaneS, which has been carefully
preserved from publicity for so many
years.
1t was said that the late Emperor
Napoleon III. had expressed such
earnest desire for possession of the gem
that he had more than once offere the
most fabulous sums to obtain it. The
superstition OF the time in which it
dourished on Egal:te's fat finger as
crlbed miraculous powers to the stone,
and that in its depths had been revealed
the fatal destiny Of its owner, when he
one day had laid himself down
to rest In the park at st. Cloud. The
weather was hot $50 goes the story and
as the duke lay musing on the varied
changes of.his own and his fathers life,
wondering whittier the sweeping doc
trines of the encyclopedias would lead
the people, binding ray of the noon
day sun, piercing like shaft through
the leaves just stirred by the wind
above his head, fell straight Gas he after
wards described the occurrence), like
pointed finger, upon the sapphire which
adorned his hand. Beneath the ray of
light it seemed to increase in size and
grow all afame.
Az EXTRAORDINARY LEGEND.
In astoniskment he raised it to his
eye, and there behe!d the scafold, and
the hesdsman, and the surging crowd;
nav, so excited did he become that he
actually fancied he could hear the
trampling of the horses of the guard,
and the roll of the drums which an
nounced the arrival of the cart bearing
the prisoner to his doom. Presently the
victim assembled the steps: his back was
turned; IN another second he was made
to kneel before the block, and then the
face, pale and livid. full of horror and
indignation, was recognized by the ter
rifed gaZer as his own, Nine. de Genlis
refers more than once in her Memoirs"
to the secret circumstance, the memory
of which now and then overcame the
poor debauched Egalite with dread and
melancholy, but of course was turned
born gamblers and harlots OF whom the
Dukes society was composed. The
diamond naturally occupied the greater
portion of the lecturers attention, and
he expressed the greatest objection to
the engraving of the diamond which has
been essayed of late, as it deteriorates
nom the value of the stone, which is
dependent on its brllliancy.
the largest diamond in the world
the Draganza, belonging to the King of
Portugal-is said to weigh 1000 carats,
and to be worth 9224 600 COO. 1t is to be
supposed that nobody has. however,
offered to purchase it. The mad Queen
Joanna always carried it about her
person, and every morning dedicated it
in all solemnity to ST. Jago, holding it
in her grasp all the time she laid it on
the altar. The three historical rubies
once also belonged to the. Crown of
Portugal, said to have been dropped by
Don Sebastian in the sand of the beach
TangierS, when he landed on his flight
from his country. are still hunted for by
credulous treasure-seekers, and are
supposed to be only concealed for
While until some fisherman more lucky
than his fellows may bring them to
light. Polish tradition tells of dia-
mond concealed in the treasury vaults
OF the Sapieha family at Warsaw, which
is unique in the world, possessing the
faculty of rejecting in brilliancy of
color every object placed near it.
FREAKS OF FASHION.
In short, there is no end to the
legends furnished by the diamond in ali
countries, and it is pity to behold the
decrease of its value in consequence of
the great quantity being poured upon
US from the Cape. Never did fashion
show more malevolent caprice than in
the case of the diamond, for just as il
becomes more easy of acquisition the
usual, and once the only, wearers OF the
precious gem refuse to acknowledge Its
value as an adjunct to the full-dress
toilet. Indeed" Jamented Mr.. Alfred
Philips, 1.-THE mode OF jeweled orna-
ments is dying out, and no encourage
ment is, therefore;s offered to the skill
and invention of the ieweler." After
little pigs and mice, the miniature
elephants and HOLSTERS, worn as emblems
to the throat or forehead, complete
standstill in the matter of jewels has
taken place on the part of the Partisan
ladies. Earrings, not long ago worn BIZ
every female, high and low, have almost
wholly disappeared, and the pendenart
upon which The English jewele,, y"
ded much care and sentiment, La go.
with the neck-chain t.
which it belonged, in order to give place
to the collar or ribbon or puff> of gfuz
clumsy and unbecomlng, yet behelL
all the fashionable balls Of the season.
1t is thought that the ruby mines of
Burmah will give new impetus to the
jewel trade when their product reaches
England. Rubies are pronounced to be
far more becoming to the complexion
of the English ladies than the diamond,